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Rain Gauge: 2014 Normal Year For Precip

You may feel like you’ve been dodging more than your fair share of raindrops, but don’t let the last week or so fool you. The state’s rainfall is about average this year.

“Generally, I think people’s perceptions are colored by what’s happened in the recent past and so, you know, Atlanta got a lot of rain in the last few days. So, everybody’s saying, ‘Oh, how wet it is,’” said University of Georgia climatologist Pam Knox. “But if you look at Atlanta for the year-to-date, it’s really close to normal, so that’s always partly perception.”

As of July 31, Atlanta had received 28.17 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. That was right in line with the 30-year average of 29.93 inches in the first six months of the year. Last year, however, brought abnormally high amounts of rain. The city had already seen 45.8 inches by that time in 2013.

“Last year, you know, we were like the third wettest ever for the state as a whole, so it should feel a little bit drier. But we’ve also been pretty cool and you know, I think that kind of changes your perceptions as well,” Knox explained.

Athens has experienced similar rainfall totals: 28.11 inches through July of this year and 45.8 inches through July 2013.

“If you were gonna take the state and split it up, I would say in general the northern half of the state has been a little drier than normal for the year so far, especially when you go up to the northeast and the mountains. And if you look at the state, say from the fall line south, it’s been generally wetter. Although there is an area right around Alma and Waycross that’s been quite dry as well,” said Knox.